Monday, August 31, 2009

The founder, John Meijas (left, with bag), is a teacher here in the BoogieDown.

ErLu were taking a stroll through Van Cortlandt Village this past Saturday to meet some friends over at the newly opened (and wonderfully awesome) Bronx Ale House when we passed a rather interesting sight: a bunch of soapbox racers getting set to fly down the hill at Fort Independence Park. Naturally, we stopped to ask a few questions...

Turns out that the Paping Soapbox Derby is now in its 7th year, and it can be added to a neverending list of things that used to be cool in Brooklyn, and now are not. The race used to take place on a steep Columbia Heights hill tellingly nicknamed, "Suicide Hill." Well, the hill was right near the Jehovah's Witness center over there, so those folks were concerned about liability issues. The city caught wind of the whole thing and refused to grant a permit for the event. You can read more about the derby's history and slow death in Brooklyn here and here. After a brief stint in Inwood's Fort Tryon Park, the Paping Soapbox Derby seems to have found a new home here in the BoogieDown.